ForestWatch: Observing, Responding and Predicting the Deforestation Events using Wireless Sensors

The world today is striving to be smarter through the influx of innovative technologies. Communication and sensing devices/systems are a vital part of these technologies with applications beyond their usual domain and playing a crucial role in every aspect of our lives including healthcare, automation, transport, weather, education, entertainment, and security. Uninhibited industrialization, urbanisation and fulfilment of an over-populated planet has brought upon us a climate emergency. Deforestation through depletion of the tree crown cover and degradation of tree health caused by over-exploitation, repeated fires, or diseases is reckoned as one of the major drivers behind catastrophic climate changes. It also inflicts long-term economic losses due to limited natural resources, soil erosion, increased flooding, drought, and a domino of unfavourable effects in terms of ecosystem and public health. This talk unfolds the potentials of using a low-cost, autonomous, real-time monitoring and response system utilising intelligent wireless sensor networks and holistic implementation of Internet-of-Things to combat deforestation and avoid a fast-looming climatical calamity.